8 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. V, No. i 
RESULTS IN 1913 
On account of the inability to use a large number of seeds in glass 
tumblers, germination tests were made in tin plates in which 100 seeds 
could be used. An equivalent of 150 gm. of dry soil was placed in each 
tin plate and the necessary quantity of dry salt added. The salt was 
well mixed into the soil, which was made up to about 20 per cent of 
moisture. The seeds were planted and the pans covered with glass to 
prevent the escape of moisture. The number of seeds germinating was 
determined every day for three weeks. The results are summarized in 
Table V. 
Table V.— Percentage of germination of seeds of New Zealand wheat which germinated 
in 21 days in Greenville soil containing various alkali salts . Salts added dry 
Concentration of salt 
(p. p. m. of dry- 
soil). 
Percentage of germination. 
Sodium 
chlorid. 
Sodium car¬ 
bonate. 
Sodium sul¬ 
phate. 
Magnesium 
sulphate. 
Equal parts 
of sodium 
chlorid. so¬ 
dium carbon¬ 
ate, sodium 
sulphate, and 
magnesium 
sulphate. 
Equal parts 
of sodium 
chlorid, so¬ 
dium carbon¬ 
ate, sodium 
sulphate, and 
magnesium 
sulphate+r 
per cent of 
calcium sul¬ 
phate. 
None. 
92 
92 
92 
92 
92 
92 
2, 000. 
<55 
84 
100 
89 
88 
86 
4, 000. 
6 
92 
91 
89 
86 
83 
6, 000... 
2 
81 
69 
90 
63 
47 
8,000. 
0 
88 
53 
91 
13 
13 
10,000. 
0 
99 
12 
86 
8 
0 
12,000. 
0 
62 
14 
92 
0 
0 
14,000.. 
0 
21 
17 
85 
0 
0 
16,000.. 
0 
7 
2 
79 
0 
0 
18,000. 
0 
4 
0 
88 
0 
0 
20,000.. 
0 
0 
1 
83 
0 
0 
On examining Table V it is seen that sodium chlorid was by far the 
most toxic of the alkali salts and magnesium sulphate the least. The 
data given can not be taken as final, since all of the salts were not entirely 
dissolved and white salts could be seen scattered throughout the soil. 
The low harmfulness of sodium carbonate was probably due in part to the 
fact that it is not so readily soluble as the other salts when applied dry. 
The mixed salts were more harmful than any single salt, with the 
exception of sodium chlorid, and it is probable that the harmfulness 
of the mixed salts was due largely to the sodium chlorid. 
Since there was such a great difference in the effects of the various 
salts, a second experiment was made to determine more exactly the 
critical point of concentration. The results of this test are summarized 
in Table VI. 
